Remote control device

Abstract

A remote control device includes an instruction transmitter and a controller which controls a speed of an unmanned helicopter based on an instruction from the instruction transmitter. The instruction transmitter selectively outputs one of a speed change signal that changes the speed of the unmanned helicopter and a speed determination signal that determines the speed of the unmanned helicopter. When an output from the instruction transmitter is changed from the speed change signal to the speed determination signal, the controller determines whether the speed of the unmanned helicopter should be maintained or brought to zero based on a result of comparison between speed information of the unmanned helicopter and a threshold value. Preferably, the speed change signal changes the speed of the unmanned helicopter by changing a tilt angle of a nose of the unmanned helicopter in an up-down direction in accordance with an amount of operation applied to the instruction transmitter.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A remote control device for transportation equipment, comprising:
 an instruction transmitter that instructs a speed of the transportation equipment; and 
 a controller that controls the speed of the transportation equipment based on an instruction from the instruction transmitter; wherein 
 the instruction transmitter selectively outputs one of a speed change signal that changes the speed of the transportation equipment and a speed determination signal that determines the speed of the transportation equipment; and 
 the controller determines whether the speed of the transportation equipment should be maintained or brought to zero based on a result of comparison between speed information of the transportation equipment and a threshold value, when the output from the instruction transmitter is changed from the speed change signal to the speed determination signal. 
 
     
     
       2. The remote control device according to  claim 1 , wherein the transportation equipment is an unmanned helicopter. 
     
     
       3. The remote control device according to  claim 2 , wherein the speed change signal changes the speed of the unmanned helicopter by changing a tilt angle of a nose of the unmanned helicopter in an up-down direction in accordance with an amount of operation applied to the instruction transmitter. 
     
     
       4. The remote control device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the instruction transmitter is movable from a baseline position; 
 the instruction transmitter is movable in a range which includes a speed determination range that outputs the speed determination signal from the instruction transmitter and a speed change range that outputs the speed change signal from the instruction transmitter; 
 the speed determination range includes the baseline position, and the speed change range is outside of the speed determination range as viewed from the baseline position; and 
 the controller determines whether the speed of the transportation equipment should be maintained or brought to zero based on a result of comparison between speed information of the transportation equipment and the threshold value when the instruction transmitter is moved from the speed change range into the speed determination range. 
 
     
     
       5. The remote control device according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the instruction transmitter is movable in both a positive direction and a negative direction from the baseline position; 
 the speed determination range includes the baseline position, and is located on both a positive side and a negative side of the baseline position; 
 the speed change range includes a first change range on the positive side of the baseline position and a second change range on the negative side of the baseline position that are outside of the speed determination range as viewed from the baseline position; and 
 the instruction transmitter outputs a speed change signal that accelerates the transportation equipment when the instruction transmitter is in the first change range, and the instruction transmitter outputs a speed change signal that decelerates the transportation equipment when the instruction transmitter is in the second change range. 
 
     
     
       6. The remote control device according to  claim 4 , wherein the instruction transmitter includes a joystick that returns to the baseline position unless a force is applied; and
 an operation angle of the joystick represents an amount of operation applied to the instruction transmitter.